The Chilean forward has already bagged a brace against Nice, added a fine goal versus Auxerre, another against Lille, two against Sporting Lisbon, one against AS Monaco, and another against Hyères.
Alexis Sanchez faces a fresh challenge in his career. The Chilean striker became the newest signing for Olympique de Marseille, marking his first adventure in French football and his sixth club in Europe after stints with Udinese, Barcelona, Arsenal, Manchester United, and Inter Milan. He left Inter in June 2023, ending a chapter that had run its course.
With Marseille, he aims to challenge Paris Saint-Germain, home to stars like Lionel Messi, Neymar, and Kylian Mbappé, in Ligue 1. The club has not lifted the league title since the 2009/2010 season. There was also consideration of European competition, with a possible run in the UEFA Champions League.
Under Croatian head coach Igor Tudor, the team finished second last season after a campaign led by Jorge Sampaoli and earned a direct berth into Europe’s most prestigious tournament, the Champions League, while competing in Ligue 1 at the iconic Velodrome stadium.
THIS WAS HIS WELCOME TO FRANCE
The domestic campaign began on August 6 and runs through June 2023. Marseille opened the season with a convincing win over Reims, signaling intent. They then traveled to Brest, settling for a 1-1 draw in Michel Der Zakarian’s visit, before a standout debut in which Sanchez started against Nantes at the Stade Vélodrome, contributing to a 2-1 victory and marking his first goal surge in a brace during a 3-0 win over Nice at the Allianz Riviera. The team followed with a 1-0 win over Clermont, a late-penalty chance that was missed, and a 2-0 home victory over Auxerre, complemented by a 1-1 draw and a 2-1 defeat at Lille. The season also featured a goalless outing against Angers and a tense loss at Parc des Princes that momentarily dampened Marseille’s momentum. Sanchez stayed involved as the team battled to stay within reach of the top two, chasing PSG with every match. A heavily contested 0-0 stalemate with Lens and a dramatic late goal from Gameiro in a clash against Strasbourg kept the title chase alive. Upon returning to action, Marseille edged Lyon by a narrow margin and then beat AS Monaco with a superb free kick, keeping them in the mix for Champions League qualification.
As the Champions League group stage kicked off on September 6 after the draw on September 25, Marseille’s campaign began with a loss to Tottenham in London, with Sanchez unavailable due to a prior suspension from the 2021/2022 edition. Sanchez rejoined the continental fold with a 0-1 defeat to Eintracht Frankfurt at the Velodrome, entering at 59 minutes. In the match against Sporting, his partial equalizer helped secure a vital win, giving Marseille a home triumph and lifting them to six points in the group. A 2-1 loss to Eintracht left the team’s prospects precarious, making the home encounter with Tottenham crucial for either a breakthrough or a continuation of the fight, and Marseille ultimately finished fourth after a dramatic 95th-minute defeat by an English side that never surrendered.
After the World Cup in Qatar, the league resumed on the 29th with a decisive 6-1 win over Toulouse, in which the Tocopilla-born player contributed a full ninety minutes. The new year opened with a 1-2 victory over Montpellier, establishing Marseille in the Champions League spots. Sanchez started again as a starter and was substituted in the 83rd minute for Bamba Dieng. In the Coupe de France round of 32, Marseille faced Hyères, a National 2 side, and Sanchez scored a Panenka penalty to push Marseille up to 16th, while Ligue 1 duties continued with a win against Troyes.
It is noted that the Chilean, trained at Cobreloa, joined a club boasting a long list of honours: two Coupe de la Ligue titles, three League Cup wins, two Ligue 2 titles, multiple Coupe de France trophies, several Ligue 1 titles, and a Champions League triumph, underscoring the storied history of the club. He signed a new two-year contract through 2024, earning three million euros per season. He wore the number 70 on his shirt.
HIS STATISTICS IN LIGUE 1:
THEIR NUMBERS IN CHAMPIONS LEAGUE:
IN THE FRENCH CUP:
These insights reflect Sanchez’s ongoing impact as a key figure for Marseille, a club poised to challenge for domestic silverware and a significant European run in the seasons ahead. The narrative captures a player who blends experience with a drive to excel in a new league and a new country, continuing to influence top-tier fixtures and pivotal moments in French football.
Note: Information summarized from contemporary match reports and club records, with attribution to French football coverage.